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(UPDATE: The Maria Gadu concert on Sunday, July 28, has been CANCELLED.)
I am a HUGE fan of Brazilian culture & music and I’m looking forward to The Brazilian Nites Summer Series, organized by Brazilian Nites Productions, presenters of the top Brazilian musical talent since 1989. Patricia Leao and team put on great Brazilian events throughout the year, like Carnaval and Brazil Day LA. These summer concerts, featuring some of the most celebrated Brazilian artists of the decade, including Latin Grammy Nominees, a classically trained Jazz master, a world renowned Sambista and scintillating Samba Dancers, are can’t miss events! Here are the upcoming dates:

Sunday, June 30 – Ana Carolina with Marcos Ariel

The Brazilian Nites Summer Series begins with the acclaimed Pop music artist Ana Carolina on June 30 at The Montalban Theatre, as part of Carolina’s “Greatest Hits” US Tour. This platinum selling artist has recorded with the likes of Alejandro Sanz, Seu Jorge, Gilberto Gil, John Legend, Esperanza Spalding, and Tony Bennett –singing “The Very Thought of You” for his album Viva Duets. The singer/songwriter and Latin Grammy nominee performs the greatest hits of her 12 year career, including “Garganta,” “Nada Pra Mim,” “Trancado,” “Confesso” and “Problems.”

Opening for Carolina is the venerable Marcos Ariel, who blends the sounds of Rio de Janeiro with his passion for Classical and Jazz music. Ariel is at the forefront of contemporary Brazilian music and has been described as one of the finest Brazilian musicians of the decade. Ariel performs songs from his album “Alone with Jobim,” a tribute to the Brazilian songwriter and Bossa Nova legend Tom Jobim, who is most known for the songs “The Girl from Ipanema,” “No More Blues” (Chega de Saudade),“Water of March” (Aguas de Marco) and “Quiet Nights” (Corcovado).

Tickets are $35-80 and can be purchased online or at the following ticket outlets: Mercado Brasil (10826 Venice Blvd #105 Culver City, CA 90232, (310) 837-4291) and Brasilmania.

Sunday, July 28 – Maria Gadu

(UPDATE: The Maria Gadu concert on Sunday, July 28, has been CANCELLED.)
Continuing the Brazilian Nites Summer Series is the Maria Gadu US Tour on July 28. A native of Sao Paulo, Gadu burst onto the scene in 2009 with her hit single “Shimbalaie” and has since performed with such musical legends as Caetano Veloso and Tony Bennett; singing “Black Velvet” on Bennett’s Viva Duets album. The singer/songwriter, born in 1986, began playing music as a child and performed her first concert at the age of 13. She moved to Rio de Janeiro in 2008, where she attracted attention and gained renowned from fellow musicians including Veloso, Milton Nascimento, and João Donato among others. Gadu received two Latin Grammy award nominations in 2010 and 2012. Tickets are $33-85 and can be purchased online.

Sunday, August 11 – 20th Annual Brazilian Summer Festival

The 20th Annual Brazilian Summer Festival on August 11 at the Ford Amphitheatre ends the Summer Series. The Brazilian Summer Festival brings the electricity and energy of Rio and Bahia to Los Angeles, with the rhythms of Samba Master Jorge Aragão; Bloco Nove with Bobby Easton; DJ Chris Brazil; the powerful drumming of Samba Da Mudanca Samba School and the intoxicating dance of Capoeira and Joany and the Stunning Samba Dancers.

Raised in the traditional redoubts of Rio, Sambista Jorge Aragão has been building his career for the last 25 years. Aragao is also a singer/songwriter and musician playing the guitar, surdo, cavaco, banjo and cavaquinho (a small string instrument similar to the ukulele). He started his career in the ’70s as a sambista at balls and in nightclubs and has since recorded morethan 12 albums and composed songs for many acclaimed Brazilian artists including Beth Carvalho.He has toured the United States many times and performs in various cities in Brazil. His greatest hits include “Amigos… Amantes,” “Do Fundo do Nosso Quintal,” “Enredo do Meu Samba,” “Ontem,” and “Coisinha do Pai.”

Bloco Nove with Bobby Easton has been deeply involved in the Brazilian community of Southern California for nearly two decades. Combining creativity and tradition with an edge, this group brings something exciting and different to LA’s musical landscape. Instrumentalist, band leader and producer Bobby Eastonis also founder and leader of the Southern California world funk band Delta Nove and is founder and producer of the Long Beach Funk Fest. Co-led by renowned percussionist Simon Carroll, Bloco Nove performs a high energy, eclectic set, which includes a variety of flavors from Bahia, Brazilian soul and other musical surprises.

Samba Da Mudaça (Samba For Change) is LA’s most socially active and fastest growing Samba School with recent performances at the Hollywood Bowl, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion at the LA Music Center, and numerous music festivals. Samba Da Mudaça performs Rio Style beats, as well as Samba Reggae and modern, progressive Samba grooves. And Brazilian beats by DJ Chris Brazil.

Choreographer and Dancer, Joany Macias specializes in Brazilian-style Carnival Samba Dance. From parading the Sambadrome with the prestigious Salguiero Samba School during Rio’s Annual Carnival, to being crowned “Queen of M.I.L.A.,” (the first Samba School in the Los Angeles area), Joany has crossed continents and cultural barriers with her inspiring and spirited dance. She has also had the pleasure to dance live onstage with many musical legends such as Sergio Mendez, Bebel Gilberto, Gilberto Gil, Wyclef Jean, Aretha Franklin and the LA Symphony Orchestra.

Tickets are $20 for children, $45 for adults and can be purchased online.